Amalgamator.



B. Q. P. Foss.

AMALGAMATOR.

u APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2?. I9I4 y 79 Patented June 20, 1918.

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B. Q. P. Foss'. AMALGANIATOR. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27| |914.,

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Hg mmmmmmlll I 1 yMHH 1W-15V Patented J une 25, 14918.

B. O. P. FOSS.

Y AMALGANIATOR. APPLICATION FILED IuNIsz. 19I4.- LWYUIQW I Patented June 25, 1918.

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llbilflEU FAFNT BENJAMIN o. r. Foss, or sAN FnANcIsco, CALIFORNIA, AssIeNon 'ro THE ross INTEN- NA'rIoNAL oian REDUCTION coMrANY, or sAN rnANcIsoo, CALIFORNIA, A ConronATIoN or ARIZONA.

AMALGAMATOR.

To all 'whom t may concern Be it known `that I, BENJAMIN Q. F. Foss,

a citizen `of the United States, residing at.

Amalgamators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates, to improvements in amalgamators, and has for its object to provide an improved form of amalgamator adapted to thoroughly mix the metalliferous pulp or the like with the quicksilver or amalgamating material.`

, Another object is to provide an amalgamater comprising a casing and a rotary stirring member mounted for detachment to enable easy cleaning up of the mixing member and draining of the amalgamator.

Another object is to provide, in an amalgamator of the class described, means to prevent .leakage of pulp or fluid past the ends of the mixing member.

Still another object is to provide, in comi bination with an amalgamator, improved bearing construction for detachably supportingthe mixer in rotatable position, together with means for rotatably supporting the same in position for cleaning-up.

Other objects will be set forth and made apparent in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a horizontal section along line 1--1 of Fig. 3, showing the mixing member partially broken away;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation;

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section;

Fig. 5 is a detail section showing the construction and arrangement of the metal plates and the webs;

Fig. 6 is a detail showingv an end elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 5. l

Like numerals refer to like elements throughout the drawings, inl which:

10 designates generally the easing of my amalgamator comprising a semi-cylindrical bottom portion 11 provided vwith the supporting shoulders or flanges 112L and outwardly extending boltingflanges 11b. This bottom portion is provided with the drain trough 11c inclined from one end to the other, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 and pro- Specication of Letters Patent. jPat'lgntd Jun@ 25, 191g? Application filed I une 27, 1914. i

Serial No. 847,591.

vided with the outward opening 11d normally closed by the plug 11e 'or the like.

This trough llcis located at the bottom of cured to the bottom portion 11, is the rectan-1 gular portion of the casing, indicated by numeral 12 and comprising ends 12a and sides 12h, as clearly shown-in the drawings.

An inlet trough or hopper 13 is provided at one side of the casing portion 12 discharging into the `interior thereof and an outlet trough or spout 14 is provided at the op-` 1; posite side thereof, the same being prefer? ably arranged at the lower level than the inlet 1 3, as shown in Fig. 4. l The ends 12a.L

The ends 121L are provided with the sidel flanges 12e, top fiange 12t and bottom flange 12g, the latter being bolted tothe corres, spending of flanges l1b of the bottom portion 11, by bolts 12h or the like. A semieircuf` lar shoulder 12j is provided in each of the end member 122L and the same is grooved as indicated. by numeral 12k, see Fig. 1, for the purpose to be hereinafter described. The top flanges 12f are provided with the enlarged portions constituting lugs 121, centrally` apertured. These end members 12a are further provided with the circular raised portions 12m, centrally apertured, as indicated by numeral 12, see Fig. 2. Bearing sleeves 15 are located at each end of the machine and are formed with enlarged collars 15a adapted to contact with the outer ends of the raised portions 12m. rlhe collars 15a are further provided with the). inwardly projecting circular flanges 15b adapted to closely fit the aperture 12u. The sleeves 15 are provided with the Babbitt lining lcand have the enlarged recess or aperture 15d near one end thereof, the collar 15"y being inwardly projected and forming one side of said recess, as clearly shown in 15. At the end of the. shanks 16EL are inset wearing blocks 16b slightly hollowed out or depressed, as indicated by 16. At their other ends spindles 16 are provided with the enlarged'plates 161- and outwardly of these collars are located the tapered centeringv 'lugs 16e. The end plates 12a are each provided .with the centrally apertured and threaded studs 12, in which are threaded the posts 18. A cross-bar 19 extends beftween and is mounted on these posts 18, being secured in place adjacent the outer ends thereof' by therespective pairs of nuts` 18a threaded on the posts 18. These cross-bars 1"-9 are providedwith the centrally enlarged and apertured hub portions 19a-'through each oil which is threaded the bolt or stock 20 having thehead- 20aadapted to be engaged by a wrench orthe like?. rIhis stock 20 is provided with the tapered end adapted to iit in thedepression 16-c ofthe wearing block 16?, as shown in Fig. 2; A. lock-nut 2,1 is

' threaded on the stock 2.0011 each side of the hub portion 19 and'these nuts 21 serve to loekf 'the stock in adjusted position, as will bearrarent Located `inthe casing 10 is the mixing n'iennbem 25'comprising the central shaft or tube 25?' lraving'the end pieces 25b formed therewith or 'secured thereto, as shown in Fig. 2; These end pieces 25b arecentrally 'recessed as; indicated by 25, the centrally located recesses 25" forming seats for the centering lugs 16@ ofspindle 16. The pieces 2511 are further provided with transverse lgrooves 25-e which are adapted to receive the plates-116i ofthe Spindle 16 and form a nonrotative engagement therewith. At each end ofy the central shaft 25a is secured a supporting disk or web 26 having outwardly extending ribs 26a and a peripheral circular; flange 26p. The mixer is formed as a' drum or'shell by applying segmentary plates 27 off copper orthe like. These plates arey secured-fat theirV sides by screws or studs 27e to the angoS 28a of a T-bar 28 which extends between and is secured to the spiders 26. Similarly the ends of the plates 27 arey seeured by bolts 29 or the like to the flanges 26b on the webs or frames 26, see Fig. 5. A plurality of outwardly extending blades; o rk lugs 30 are provided, these blades 30" being provided with the portions 30a inset into and riveted to the plates 27, as shown in Fig. 5. These blades 30 are arranged in staggered rows, as shown for example in- Fig.1.

",Io support the portion of the shell between the end frames 26, I provide a circular stri-p 32, towhich are secured the ends of spokes 33, which in turn are secured at theirY other ends by bolts 34 or the like to a hubor collar 35, which in turn is secured to the centralk shaft or tube 25a by set screws 36. For rotating the mechanism 25 I provide driving mechanism comprising the main pulley 40 adapted to be driven from a belt or the like and secured to a shaft 41. This shaft is journaled at one end in the bearing 42 carried by the end plate 12a and is supported on its other side by bearing 43 carried by the pedestal 44 projecting upwardly from the adjacent'. bearing collar 15, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Outwardly of the bearing 43 the shaft 41 carries the driving pinion 46 in mesh with the gear 47 which in turn is secured to the correspondingspindle 16.

It will be apparent that rotation of the driving pulley 40 will operate to rotatethe gear 47 and when the spindles 16 are in position shown in Fig. 2 this rotation will be imparted to the mixer 25. The pulp, comprising ordinarily crushed ore and water or other fluid flows into the casing 10 through the inlet 13 in the direction of the arrow, see Fig. 4, and the mixer 25 is preferably rotated in the direction indicated by the corresponding arrow. The casing portion 11 preferably contains quicksilver or the like and thel blades or lugs 30 will operate to carry this pulp downwardly through the mercury and thorougly commingle the two to produce the amalgam. The water and other fluid will flow rupwardly over the topof the mixing drum '25 and out through the discharge spout 14, also serving to wash downwardly oil1 the blades 30, any pulp which has emerged from. the quicksilver with the rotating mixer 25. To prevent the passage of the pulp from the inlet 13 to the outlet 14 without contacting with the blades 30, that is, by passing between the ends of the mixer 25y and the end plates 12a of the casing, I pro-vide circular packing strips 50 of suitable packing material and tightly compressed in the groove 51 formed in the semicircular shoulder 12j as shown in Fig. 2. At the rear side ofthis packing strip 50 is located a follower strip 52 and a plurality of adjusting screws 53 are threaded through the shoulder 12J' and abut against the side of the strip 52. The groove 51 is so located that the packing strip 50, when theL screws 53 are properly adjusted will press tightly against the flange 26b of the webs 26, and a tight contact therebetween may be insuredby means of the screws 53, thereby preventing flow of pulp or water between the ends of the mixer 25 and the casing. When it is desired to clean-up the amalgainator, the plug 11c may be removed and the amalgam allowed to flow out. At the same time an amount of the amalgam will be clinging to the blades or lugs 30 and it is necessary to clean the same. To permit access for such cleaningwith case and rapidity, I provide rollers 60 mounted upon the spindles 61, these rollers drawal of the spindles 16, so that the mixer` 25 is free to be raised or lowered from the casing. After such raising, the spindles (il. are inserted through the apertures 63 in the end plates 12a and the nuts 62 tightened thereon. When in this position the mixing druin 25 will rest on the rollers 60, as will be apparent from examination of Fig. 2, so'

that the mixer 25 may be rotated around and the blades 30 thereof readily cleaned.

It is believed that the operation of my device is suiiciently clear from the above, and that further description is not necessary to enable those skilled in the art to understand the same.

It will be apparent that my machine is susceptible of improvements and modications, and I do not wish to be restricted to the form shown and described beyond the scope of the appended claims.

I claiml. In a deviceof the class described, a casing, a mixing member rotatably mounted in said casing, said casing being provided with a semi-cylindrical portion, the inner surface thereof closely fitting a portion of said mixing member and adapted to hold amalgamating material to partially submerge said mixing member, and means to insure contact between the ends of said mixing member and said casing above the level of said material.

9.. In a device of the class described, a casing, a mixing member rotatably mounted therein, means to insure a substantially fluid-tight contact between a portion of said casing and the ends of said mixing member, said means Comprising a packing strip.

3. In a device of the class described, a casing, a mixingmember rotatably mounted therein, means to insure a substantial fluid-tight 4contact between a portion of said casing and the ends of said mixing member, said means comprising a packing strip, and means to maintain said packing strip in contact with said mixing member.

In a device of the class described, a casing, a mixing member rotatably mounted therein, means to insure a substantial fluid-tight contact between a portion of said casing and the ends of said mixing member, said means comprising a packing strip, means to maintain said packing strip in Contact with said mixing member, said means comprising a follower strip, and screw `threaded adjusting members coacting therewith.

5.1In a device of vthe class described, a casingadapted to hold amalgamating material therein, a mixing member rotatabl mounted in said casing and adapted to be partially submerged in said material, means to' insure `substantially 'Huid-tight contact between said casing and said mixing member above said material, said means comprising packing strips carried by said casing and contacting with the ends of said mixing member.

6. In a device of the class described, a casing adapted to contain amalgamating Huid, a mixing member rotatably mounted in said'casing and adapted to be partially submerged in said fluid, said mixing member comprising a shell mounted on end webs, said webs having peripheral flanged portions, packing strips carried by said casing, said peripheral flanges of said webs being adapted to contact with said packing strips above said fluid.

7 In a device of the class described, a

'casing adapted to contain amalgamating fluid, a mixing member rotatably' mounted in said casing and adapted to be partially submerged in said fluid, and adjustable i means for effecting a fluid-tight contact between the ends of said mixing member and the adjacent parts of said casing.

S. In a device of the class described, a

casing, spindles journaled in said casing and projecting thereinto, a rotatable 'mixing member adapted to be rotatably supported by said spindles in said casing, said spindles being arranged to permit disengagement therewith from said mixing member to permit removal of the latter from said casing, and means to 'maintain said spindles in engagement with said mixing member, said means comprising stock members eoacting with and pressing against the ends of said spindles. p

9. In a device of the class described, a casing, spindles journaled in said casing and projecting thereinto, a rotatable mixing member adapted to be rotatably supported by said spindles in said casing, said spindles being arranged to permit disengagement therewith from said mixing member to permit removal of the latter from said easing, and

ment with said mixing member, said means comprising stock members coacting with and pressing against the ends of said spindles, said stocks being adjustably mounted in cross-bars supported by said casing.V

10. In a device of the class described, a casing, a mixing member rotatably mounted in said casing and adapted to be removed therefrom, and means to support said mixmeans to maintain said spindles in engageing' member when removed to non-.mixing position above seid casing, said means oomprismg rollers carried by said casing.

l1. In .L device of the class described, u. easing. a :mixng'memb'er rotatably mounted fin seid casing and adapted Yto be removed therefrom, fand* means to support said mixingcmember when removed to non-mixing position, said means comprisingv` rollers detechably mounted in said easingand adaptodio rotatably support', Said mixing momber, said rollers being` adapted to prevent bhe removal of said mixing member when the latter is inthe easing. o

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed 15 my name.

BENJAMIN (M). P. FOSS. Witnesses R. HARDIN, W. A. HALL.

Uopies of thisy patent ms' be obtained for me c ents each, Iby addressing the Commissioner at Patents,

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